Datadesk Smartboard Keyboard

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

The Datadesk Smartboard is around ~2006.

This one is truly the most innovative, best, ergonomics keyboard, back in 2006. Had a chance to see it in real life at last Northern Cal keyboard meetup.

Its design, is essentially 10 years ahead of its time. Only today (2018), we start to see this beginning to be mainstream.

smartboard keyboard
Datadesk Smartboard 〔image source www.datadesktech.com

Note the split space key. Excellent.

Also, large Alt and Ctrl keys, symmetrically positioned, right under the thumb.

smartboard keyboard keys
Datadesk Smartboard's mechanical switch. 〔image source geekhack.org

Mechanical key switch!

〔see Keyboard Key Switch Mechanisms

〔see Mechanical Keyboard and Repetitive Strain Injury

smartboard keyboard 2
〔image source www.atpm.com

Note the non-staggered key layout. Excellent.

The design of this keyboard is:

Best of all, it's only $100. All other ergonomic keybinding with mechanical switches costs at least $220. 〔see Best Ergonomic Keyboards, Xah Pick

See one review here: 〔SmartBoard USB5000 Review By Christopher Turner. At http://www.atpm.com/12.05/smartboard.shtml , accessed on 2011-11-23〕.

This keyboard used to be on Amazon around 2010 or before. According to reviewers at Amazon, the company Datadesk Tech seems to be around as early as 1990s, and the company seems to be one-man running in basement. Not sure if it is still available.

Call them up on their website and see if they still sell it. at www.datadesktech.com. (if you do, please leave a comment.)


Smartboard Manual